Looking Back 9-17-25

130 Years Ago

September 14, 1895

John Wantland had a rib broken when kicked by an unruly horse in Duell's livery stable.

William Masters is making extensive improvements in his farm residence northeast of town.

A large number of people attended the Cropsey Fair on Thursday. The officers elected for the coming year are: Pres., E. B. Meeker; Vice Pres., John Loar; Sec., Sherman Williams; Treas., D. S. Crum; directors, William Mooberry, D. W. Barnes, E. H. Ward, Charles Forsythe, Willis Ward, G. H. Bennett, William Huston; Marshal, D. W. Barnes.

The mile of gravel road north of the east side of Fairbury, in Avoca Township, is unanimously commended as a good thing. The gravel on this road was put there mostly by private subscription. The material came from the Robert Somerville farm, north of Hugh Robinson's place. T. A. Beach contributed 250 loads delivered on the road, Hugh Robinson 225 loads, Ed Dirks, 200, R. H. Somerville 120, Geo. Kifer 100, L. B. Dominy 100. Others who contributed were John Virgin, G. Y. McDowell, S. F. Banker, W. S. Bennett, J. Crumbaker, A. J. Bennett, A. M. Pearson, M. M. Pearson and F. Mowery.

120 Years Ago

September 15, 1905

About 100 members of the M. W. A. of this city went to Pontiac on a special train Tuesday to attend the Woodman picnic. They took with them the Fairbury Band and some of the boys expected to bring home the prize for the largest delegation, but they didn't. Long Point had the only other contesting delegation, but they captured the first prize. Some of the Fairbury Woodmen think the Long Point delegation was loaded up after they seen and counted the Fairbury delegation, but the Long Point boys would hardly do a mean thing like that.

W. L. Sample of Chenoa was called to Watseka Saturday evening on account of a disease which some of his horses had on his farm near that city. The disease, according to a state veterinarian, was glanders, and consequently three of his horses were killed Monday to prevent a spread of the disease.

The Brick school opened Monday morning with an enrollment of nine scholars and Miss Powell of McDowell as teacher.

We are now prepared to wash and press men's clothing, coats, pants and vests. We guarantee all work and will make your old suit look like new for one dollar. —Fairbury Steam Laundry

110 Years Ago

September 17, 1915

T. R. Voorhees will fill the position of second trick operator at the depot during the absence of Nate Camp, who will take a trip through the west.

The Delta Sigma Rho fraternity entertained Monday night at the club rooms above Walton Bros. store in honor of Harry Morris, who left on Tuesday morning to attend school at the Alton Military Academy.

Carl Goudy won the 300-mile motorcycle race at the Chicago Speedway Sunday, over 27 of the world's best motorcycle riders. In winning the race he established a new world's record for the distance, which he covered in 3:29:41 2-5. That was more than 15 and a half minutes better than the old record.

The youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Storck recently had the misfortune to fall from a swing and break her arm.

100 Years Ago

September 18, 1925

A three-day entertainment for the people of this locality will be given at the fair grounds October 8, 9 and 10. The first day will be given over to automobile races and some of the most noted drivers in the country will be here to participate. The rodeo will be held the 9^th  and 10^th and there will be a host of cow punchers from the wild and woolly west and all the ingredients that go to make up an exhibition full of excitement and thrills.

Dance halls in Livingston County will not be allowed to operate on Sunday nights, the board of supervisors at their meeting last Friday taking steps to put a ban on this amusement on that day. It will be remembered that at the last session of the legislature a bill was passed giving boards of supervisors power to license dance halls. The committee recommended that where dances were operated by church and charitable organizations or not for personal gain that the yearly fee be $10 and that where dances were operated for personal gain that the yearly fee be $25.

Sunday morning about three o'clock Mrs. James Hornbeck arose to get a drink of water. She did not turn on the lights and, becoming confused in the dark, stepped into the doorway of the cellar, the door being open, and fell to the bottom of the cellar. She struck on her side and her head, bruising her side and arm badly and cutting a gash in the top of her head. A physician was summoned and an examination showed no bones were broken and her injuries, while severe, are not serious.

90 Years Ago

September 13, 1935

Robert Stiver had his Willys Knight sedan badly damaged by fire Wednesday evening about 5:40 o'clock. Mr. Stiver had pulled into the Shell Service Station at Seventh and Oak Streets, where Ernest Bess, the owner of the station, filled the tank with gas. While the car was still standing at the pump, Mr. Bess happened to walk back of the car and noticed a fire under the gas tank. Fire extinguishers were used without avail and an alarm was sent in for the fire department. The interior and top of the car were ruined and the outside badly damaged. The car was insured.

Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Ralston, who for the past nine years have operated a five and ten cent store here, are closing it tomorrow evening. The stock will be invoiced and possibly a sale held. A couple of weeks ago when the announcement was made that Kunkel's would open a store in the Masonic building, it was said that the Ralston Store would be taken over by the new firm. Mr. and Mrs. Ralston opened up in business here on September 14, 1914, purchasing the variety store of D. Adams.

Dillon Loughran, employed in the mechanical department of The Blade, is taking an enforced vacation. Last Saturday afternoon while removing a part of the paper cutter mechanism his right hand slipped, the back of that member striking the sharp corner of the knife and inflicting an injury that required seven stitches to close.

80 Years Ago

September 14, 1945

Edward R. Ruhlander, of Strawn, has taken over the interests of Clarence Newman Jr., at the Cities Service Oil Company station at the corner of Main and First Streets, the deal having been closed yesterday. Mr. Ruhlander just recently received his discharge from military service. The Cities Service Station is in a good location and Mr. Ruhlander is a fine young man. He should get his share of the business.

The younger generation will be pleased to know that Fairbury is soon to have a roller skating rink. It will be located in the Fairbury Opera House, recently purchased by C. E. Leman from Mrs. J. E. Eddy. The proprietor of the new skating rink is Wayne Finch, of Champaign. He has had experience a-plenty in the management of skating rinks and declares that the Fairbury rink will be conducted in a most orderly manner with a police officer present at all times. Mr. Finch plans to open the rink on Friday, September 28, and plans to have it open three days a week – Friday, Saturday and perhaps Sunday.

Word has come from the War Finance Committee of the Treasury Department that in the future the name of war bonds will be changed to Victory Bonds. the eighth bond drive will begin October 29. When bond sales were first started they were Defense Bonds. Then with this country's entry into the war they were changed to War Bonds, And now that victory has come, they are Victory Bonds. But by whatever name they may be called, they are the best investment available. Buy Victory Bonds!

70 Years Ago

September 15, 1955

Fairbury Hospital Auxiliary is asking people of the community for crutches to be used at the hospital. Anyone who has crutches available is asked to please contact Inez Hoffman.

The possibilities of securing a new post office for Fairbury, a discussion of parking problems and the appointment of a committee to act upon reducing the number of visual hazards along Route 24 within the city were the important items of business transacted at the regular meeting of the Chamber of Commerce held Tuesday evening.

Naval Reserve Ens. Donald S. Hartman, son of Silas Hartman, and husband of the former Jo Ann Bauer of Cissna Park, was commissioned during graduation ceremonies Sept. 9 at the officer candidate school at Newport, R. I.

The road toward a new fire truck for the city of Fairbury and surrounding rural area was officially laid open.

60 Years Ago

September 16, 1965

Normally, Fairbury's Locust Street is still bright at 5 p.m., but Tuesday it was a whirling grey cloud of water, as one of the hardest rains in memory hit just at 4:45, after menacing clouds had gathered for the preceding hour. Visibility at times was less than a block. Many Fairbury streets were level from curb to curb with water after two torrential storms just before and just after the supper hour.

Area police are looking for two carloads of vandals who moved a barricade onto U. S. 24 west of Fairbury Monday night about 11 p.m. A large semi-truck trailer and two cars were forced to drive off the highway and into the ditch when they came up on the barrier at high speed a few minutes later. The west-bound semi took to the north shoulder and almost jack-knifed, but managed to remain upright. The two passenger cars, both east-bound, skidded into the south ditch. The occupants were badly scared but otherwise uninjured.

Nussbaum Chevrolet-Olds in Chatsworth has been sold to Gene Gardner of Naperville, effective October 1. Prior to the change, an auction of used vehicles, including an extra-large selection of trucks, will be held Friday, Sept. 24. The firm has been operated for the past five years by Alden Nussbaum of Fairbury and Dean Nussbaum of Chatsworth, with the latter serving as manager. About two years ago they built a new large garage on U. S. 24 at the east edge of Chatsworth. The new owner has been the used-car manager for Colonial Pontiac-Buick at Naperville.

50 Years Ago

September 18, 1975

Beginning this fall, the Fairbury Hospital and Dr. Nick Kothari and Dr. T. F. Mauger, both of Fairbury Medical Associates, Ltd., will be participating in the clinical training of first year medical students from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Urbana. The Fairbury community joins 13 other communities in the Champaign-Urbana region in providing an extensive clinical practice program in which beginning medical students regularly assist practicing physicians and affiliated hospitals and thus learn by actually observing and participating.

Ex-cavalryman Bob Seney, 60, from the state of Washington, moseyed through Fairbury this week en route by horseback from Arizona to Florida. Averaging about 20 miles per day, speed obviously was not his goal, and so it was no wonder as he rode east along U. S. 24 that he was far north of the most direct route between those two states. He spent Sunday night in Weston, and then lingered in Fairbury until Wednesday morning before leaving, riding one horse and leading another.

Perry Burroughs, retired Fairbury railroad agent, and former executive secretary of the Fairbury Association of Commerce, was hospitalized for observation of possible internal injuries last week after being injured by an exploding paint can. The lid of the can struck his side with such force that each concentric ring, plus the discharge rod in the center, left a deep imprint in his flesh. Burroughs reportedly put the can in a fire by accident on Thursday, and when he realized what he had done, attempted to retrieve it. Just then it exploded. He was released Saturday.

40 Years Ago

September 12, 1985

Kevin Meints admits, his knees were shaking after he threw his 10^th consecutive strike Sunday night on his way to the first 300 game ever rolled at Westgate Bowling Lanes in Fairbury. By that time, all the other bowlers in the Sunday night mixed league had stopped their own games and gathered behind lanes five and six to watch Meints flirt with perfection. After the 11^th strike, he had already beaten his previous best, a 276 rolled last winter, and he was one strike away from his perfect game. He didn't take a lot of time to send his 12^th strike on its way. "It was a little light but it came up real good," he smiles.

Over 300 people toured Fairbury Hospital this week during Open House, viewing the new and remodeled facilities. Board president Harvey Traub indicated that people touring the facility showed much community pride, especially in the new skilled care unit, commenting on its pleasing appearance and atmosphere. The new unit has nine private as well as ten semi-private beds. Patients are to be admitted to the unit beginning Sept. 16.

Rev. Lee Heafner has accepted the position of Pastor at the Fairbury Church of God located at the corner of First and Walnut Streets. He has been affiliated with the Church of God for 12 years. He has been Pastor of two churches in North Dakota and one in Heyworth. Rev. Heafner resides on West Ash Street with his wife, Rhonda and their children, Lee, 6, and Stacey, 2.

30 Years Ago

September 13, 1995

Wes Johnson, the Twirly Man, is closing down Chatsworth's most colorful business. After being diagnosed with cancer, Johnson has decided to shut down his second-to-none yard ornament business that he started in 1963. In 32 years, he has wood-crafted some 159 different items, many that were 'gobbled up" before he could display them. He's been dubbed "The Twirly Man" because of the colorful spinning whirligigs he's turned out, many with animation in several directions. His vivid work has gone to England, France, Holland, Italy, Japan and Germany, and has been shown throughout Central Illinois at shows in Lexington, Loda, Gilman and elsewhere.

The Denny and Jane Steidinger family are chronicled in a new book, "Portrait of a Farm Family," by author and photographer Ray Bial of Urbana. The book was set for release Sept. 9 on the independent diary farmers near Fairbury. Bial spent a summer of weekends at the family farm, taking pictures of all aspects of their farm life.

Edwards Soil Service, Inc., a Livingston County business staple for more than half a century, is being sold to an Oklahoma-based fertilizer corporation. Ken Broquard, president and general manager of the Edwards Soil Service Corporation, said a letter of intent was signed with Crop Production Services Aug. 25. He said an outright sale is planned for Oct. 2. Crop Production Services operates retail outlets in Blackstone, Onarga and Wenona. Broquard said the Tulsa, Okla.-based company operates more than 200 outlet locations, from the east to west coasts.

20 Years Ago

September 14, 2005

Fairbury native, Zack Stork, along with a team of NASA astrophysicists and astronomers from both the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) will soon be exploring the center of our galaxy in hope of detecting cyanoformaldehyde. Cyanoformaldehyde was first created, isolated and studied by Stork while he was at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale pursuing a Masters Degree in Physical Chemistry. Stork's research received first-page publication in the prestigious Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS). Stork is currently employed as a Chemist and Regional Quality Systems Manager for Plastipak Inc., Champaign. He is also Professor of Physics at Parkland College in Champaign.

Jason and Jennifer Whitfill of Fairbury are parents of a baby girl, born Aug. 26, 2005 at St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington. Lucy Ann weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 20 inches long at birth. She was welcomed home be her older brother, Lyndon Alan, 2. Maternal grandparents are Gary and Patty Hofmann of Fairbury. Paternal grandparents are Tom and Becky Whitfill of Fairbury.

The junior and open classes of the Culinary Department at the Fairbury Fair had 43 entries of which six trophy awards were given. The Junior Homemaker Award was given to Caitlyn Wade of Colfax. It is chosen on the basis of the total premiums won in the Junior Dept. James Stork received a trophy for the Best Canned Good for his canned corn. Donna Sands won the Best Baked Product award for her Fresh Peach Pie. Megan Beutke of Long Point had the Best Decorated Cake in the Amateur Class. Rosie Reis won trophies for the President's Cookie Jar, and Jelly Jamboree.

10 Years Ago

September 16, 2015

Maybe it's because completion of the project brings the son of Denise and Brian Plenert of Forrest one step closer to his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout, or maybe it's the thought of giving back to his grade school in a way that will be recognized for years to come. Whatever the reason, even two days after completion of the new swing set at Pontiac Christian School, 15-year-old Trevor Plenert, a Life Scout with Boy Scouts of America Troop 1870 in Fairbury, is still beaming over the accomplishment. The sophomore at Prairie Central High School says there were times when he was intimidated by all the paperwork involved with completing an Eagle Scout Project, but when he looks at what he's accomplished, it feels really good.

Howard Payne of rural Fairbury celebrated his 90^th birthday with a family dinner at Bernardi's in Pontiac. His birthday was Sept. 9. He and his wife, Maxine, have been married for 65 years. They have two sons, John (the late Sharon) and Steve (Kelly), and seven grandchildren. Payne is a retired farmer and road commissioner.

The Prairie Central Hawks varsity football team preaches defense in their practices. From Day 1 of Coach Aaron Hilgendorf's reign as head coach, he has felt defense is a passion and that if you have good defense you will always be in the game. Friday night against the Olympia Spartans, the Hawk defense set the tone early and often and carried the Hawks to a 47-6 Corn Belt Conference victory over the stunned Spartans in Stanford. The Hawk defense held the Spartans to only 187 yards of offense while accumulating 388 of total offense on the night. Next week,the PC Hawks will face cross county foe, Pontiac, who is also coming off a big win versus Illinois Valley Central.

(Kari Kamrath's "Looking Back" is sponsored each week by Duffy-Pils Memorial Home)